Because there is a performative aspect to gymnastics that most other Olympic sports, aside from figure skating, lack. You are a tiny person in a vast arena of people. While what they are doing looks massive on TV, when the frame is tightly cropped in, it is fairly easy to get distracted away from it when you are in…

Completely disagree. Men’s floor exercise, with no music and no movements beyond specific technical gymnastic skills, is dynamic and challenging but boring and weird. It is undeniable that there is an element of performance and personality to gymnastics, similar to that in figure skating and competitive cheer. And…

In fact, you would be wrong. The NY Times wrote a very in-depth article about this recently: The members of the US team have a lot of say in what they wear and many if not all of them seem to love the sparkle, with some even saying it’s what initially drew them to the sport. And is it really that surprising? Athletes…

We’re just bringing you the latest in sports news, my friend.

You’re not sorry to say that.

I think they should just add music to the men’s gymnastics! I think it makes it more enjoyable to watch and doesn’t get rid of the WOW that was incredibly challenging parts IMO. The men’s gymnastics seems to focus so much on things that seem difficult without being as cool-looking to watch. Idk... it definitely…

There u go

You’re what 26? Wait till that crowd you’re playing with is 32.

Aging, mortality, death, loneliness

I think it’s taken a while and will still take even more time to exorcise the demons of the prior scoring system. There was a lot more wiggle room—officially or unofficially—for subjective scoring on “elegance”, “grace”, etc. Today’s gymnastics is inherently more objective, and therefore Biles’s power and skill…

Joe Posnanski and now this article have made me really interested specifically in the scoring of gymnastics. Just the whole rubric of grading based on difficulty is so novel relative to other ways we score things.

NY Times put out a cool video about what makes her so amazing. She’s literally doing things that no one else even dares doing.

I mean...but at least they arent Nazis..ammirite?

At the very least they should get the fuck out of your living room, man.

god I did kickball on the mall this spring to help some friends fill out the roster, it was the worst. people take it so seriously for some reason. it’s kickball, don’t argue calls with me, and don’t try and do a high-legged slide into 2nd base to breakup a double play like this is game 7 of the ALCS.

Well...I guess CrossFit is better than ISIL, but don’t make me say it twice.

How did you not include the tough mudder/spartan race/warrior dash crowd? I’d say it would have to be pretty high on the list.

I’m glad my cohort (competitive social sportsplayer) is not here. I am extremely insufferable on the dodgeball court and flag football field. I am also REALLY insufferable at kickball :(

I’ll give them a pass over most of these people, since surfing actually looks like it might be fun.